Old School is one my favourite movies. Mitch, Frank "The Tank" and Beanie were an excellent combination of sarcasm, smarts, idiocy and yearning to re-live youth.

Frank ended up going streaking by himself, and ends up getting picked up by his embarrassed wife and her fan full of friends. Classic.

If the Oilers plan to start their own winning streak, they will need more than one guy leading the charge. The Oilers haven't won two straight since winning on the road in Ottawa (Oct 19th) and in Montreal (Oct 22nd). That is the only positive streak the Oilers have been on all season, and considering they haven't won at home since October 7th, it would a refreshing change for the home fans to see a solid effort.

The Oilers have lost six straight at home and they've been outscored 23-3. That is embarrassingly bad. You can't sugarcoat it. They are 1-7 at home, they've been outscored 32-11and their only win came in a shootout. It is time the Oilers start rewarding their loyal fans with a good effort, and hopefully some offence.

The Oilers have scored one ES goal at home in the last 360 minutes. One, and it was scored by a defenceman, Justin Schultz, late in the game vs. Washington. How is that even possible? What makes it even more concerning is that you are supposed to get favourable matchups at home, yet lately Sutherby and Strudwick are more likely to score than the Oilers forwards.

The fans pay big bucks and despite the awful start, they are still coming to the games. No more excuses, no more talk of moral victories, who cares about shots for or against or scoring chances. Just work harder and score. Go to the damn net, pay the price and shoot the puck.

LINEUP

Justin Schultz returns to the lineup after missing eight games due to a groin injury. Schultz will help moving the puck out of the zone, but he needs to shoot the puck in the offensive zone. Philip Larsen had 19 shots in 8 games, and he helped make the PP better. Schultz has 20 shots in 14 games, and I'd like to see him shoot more often rather than look to pass.

PARTING SHOTS...

Look for the Oilers weakside D-man to start pinching again. In Florida they stopped pinching, because the forwards weren't making the right decision, which led to too many odd man rushes. When the D-man pinches it is vital that the high forward make the right read and not be too low in the zone. The 3F (high guy usually) has to anticipate when the weak side D is going to pinch, and he needs to swing high in the zone and shade over to that side.

Have Oilers fans become adverse to hard plays. I can't believe Andrew Ference is taking grief for his fight with Lee Stempniak. Stempniak crushed Ference with a hard hit; Ference was annoyed by it and elected to go after Stempniak. The Oilers rarely push back, and when one finally does, some fans actually complained about it. Go back and watch tapes of the Oilers in the 80s, do you think they were choir boys all the time? They were incredibly skilled, but they also were tough and didn't let teams take advantage of them.

If anything, Oiler fans should be excited that they have a player who is wiling to stand up for himself. He took matters into his own hands. This team needs more guys to play with an edge or emotion.

David Perron is the only forward who has an ES point in the last six home games. We've focused a lot on the lack of a top-pairing D-man, which is true, but until this group of forwards can sustain a cycle in the offensive zone they will struggle scoring. It is time the forwards started carrying their weight on home ice.

READ THIS....We would like to sell out DJ Suitcase today. So as a bonus, we will do a draw today at 5:45 from everyone who bought a ticket. The winner will get a pair of seats to tonight's Oiler game and Thursday's. The party will be fun, and now you will have a chance to go to two Oiler games. Buy your DJ Suitcase tickets here. All proceeds go to The Inner City Children's Program. Good luck and thank you.

LOOKING AHEAD....

GAME DAY PREDICTION: At some point they have to win at home don't they? The Oilers record for consecutive home losses is 9, between October 16th, 1993 to November 24th, 1993. That was a span of 39 days. The Oilers last home win this year was October 7th, a span of 43 days. The season ticket holders, mini pack holders or single game buyers deserve a win. Oilers shock all of us with a 6-2 win.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Hall gets two points. He has 11 points in 8 career games vs. the Blue Jackets.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: After hearing all the talk about whether the Oilers should have drafted Ryan Murray instead of him, Nail Yakupov scores a pair of goals, and crushes Murray with a heavy hit. After the game Yakupov says it was nothing personal, but also points out that if the Oilers had drafted Murray that J. Schultz likely wouldn't have signed in Edmonton. That ends the "what if" debate about who they should have drafted.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

Eakins has officially lost all credibility. Accountability? rewarding players for their success? It is all lipservice, it means nothing, cause we got to make sure best buddy's son sees play and is happy. What a joke.
Give arco 12-15mins and put Yaks on the number 1 PP unit. Until then these words about accountabilityvand rewarding players for making the right decisions mean nothing. Nothing!

Has Eakins made anymore asinine accountability comments since last week. Or did he learn a lesson that the average Oiler fan is not stupid as he apparently thought, when they see one of their best performing players get benched for a guy who he should not been let back in the line-up. His coaching is as bad as my grammer and propensity for run on sentences. (Look Above)I heard that he admitted that Gagner was not ready for duty, and probably needed another 10 days. No Chit Sherlock.

Dallas if you read this comment, get your head out of your behind and play Arco.

It is tough to understand the thinking not to play Arcobello. He was (is) hungry, aggressive, creative, and effective. He is typifying what the smaller forwards should be like on this team. If Gags is playing tentatively because of his jaw, then at the very least, Arco should be spotted in. He would probably be even more effective than Potter on the blueline. At least he knows what color jerseys that his teammates are wearing. Brutal.

No question Maurice over Eakins. Probably could have even brought Maurice in with Eakins as an Associate - if - MacT liked Eakins that much. Maurice has NHL experience and coaches a structured two way game. Exactly what this group needs, to start winning consistently. Just because you have some potential top end NHL calibre offensive players, doesnt mean you run and gun and swarm all over the place. Patience and pick your spots to run and gun on the foundation of solid 2 way system play - is what a guy like Maurice could have brought to the table.

Yup- Totally agree, Maurice brings more to the table, not that Eakins
never will, just not yet.

This team just needs proper pieces - better pieces in those critical
and so hard to find bottom 6 - and top 4 D. We just are not good enough
or rather well rounded enough.

60 meaningless games just kills me, especially when nothing is being done to fix it. Other teams make trades, they always find a way.
But not the Oilers. Wouldnt Versteeg been a nice pick up ?

There's not really room in the top 3 lines for him .... but .... he could easily draw in for Will Acton and spot in on the top 3 from time to time.
I actually like Eakins + Mac T (bring on the trashes) ... but not playing Arco is a bit of a head scratcher.

There is more then enough room for a guy like Arco who is defensively aware and puts up points. 1.8 goals in the last 10 games...He fits in my top six cause he proved it the first 15 games. Top 9 easy. In the forward group period. We aren't deep enough to take a guy with his production outta the line-up for some unknown reason...

Any coach in the NHL has him playing at least 3rd line in some capacity if they saw what he gave them. Why on God's green earth is Eakins benching him. It defy's logic. Did he look at his wife?

I really hope I do not see 5 players all on the outside on the PP tonight. Someone has to be in front of the net and not Jones who often jumps out of the way. It's tough being there but someone needs to be there. Boston often uses Chara in front of the net. He does not have soft hands but a hard ass to move. I'm not saying Belov is Chara but what about putting some size up in front of the goalie? I hate seeing the special teams crash after what was looking good last season.

The tickets are sold, but folks must be skipping the games these days. On Friday vs SJ, our row was only 1/2 full with loads of open seats around us... night and day with last year. I expect there will be even fewer actually in attendance tonight.

I didn't go to the Sharks game but I went to the Dallas game last Tuesday and it was about 90% full. I guess fans didn't think we had a chance against SJ.

I think we have better chance to win against the BJ so there probably be more fans at Rexall tonight.

Versteeg is making 4.6 million for another 2.5 years. That's a lot of cash for a guy that is very inconsistent.

As compared to 4.8/season for Gags who cant win a draw/play physical/score/play defense.... Where the fu*k is Arco...Yes MacT signed gags to a stupid contract so now Arco pays the price. "Its hard to sit a proven NHLer" really, when did gags prove himself???Not a 2C not a 3C what does he do??? You're guess as good as mine...This reeks of Kblowe and his ego...Gags/Kblowe must go!!!!

Who is complaining about Ference's fight with Stempniak? I can't fathom any Oiler fan having an issue with what he did. Its stunning. WTF?!?

Our captain sent a message. If you watch the tape he gave Stempniak plenty of time to defend himself. But he wasn't asking him to fight. There was no option. You hit me like that, you fight. Kudos. We need more of this.

I for real can't even play devils advocate and try to find any reason any Oiler fan wouldn't love what he did. I get Flamers didn't like it. Much like we didn't like Regher smashing Hemsky's face through the end boards for 5 years.

People complaining about this play are probably the ones yelling SHOOOOOOOOOOOT at the game.

True that. but you know what. From what i have seen, i am sooo glad we did not sign Clarkson to that contract. He is ok , but just not worth that coin. Kind of like Horc was here.

Raymond - what a steal. Matt Cooke- he would fit in nice for a year or 3.

Shoulda - Woulda - coulda - but the Oilers new seem to be able to
make that type of trade.

60 games of going nowhere and we won't make moves or give up a kid and lets draft another superstar left. Wow.

Unless you have a crystal ball, who would expect Raymond to perform at this level? He had been invisible for 2 years in a row. And if you think our top 9 is not soft enough, Raymond will definitely help.

If MacT signed Raymond and he performs like his past 2-3 years, you guys will say it is another big mistake by MacT.

Many wars have been lost because only one side played by the rules. As soon as it has been determined that the rules are only being abided by one side, the rules need to be tossed aside, or your risk of losing goes up drastically.

Many wars have been lost because only one side played by the rules. As soon as it has been determined that the rules are only being abided by one side, the rules need to be tossed aside, or your risk of losing goes up drastically.

Agreed. But there are some infractions that bring more punishment than reward. In Ferences case he got away with it.

What practice is that? Sticking up for yourself and your teammates? We'll now that is a novel concept. Yes, I am in favor of it. That is what one of the greatest leaders in sports history did game in and game out! Moooooooose!!

Who is complaining about Ference's fight with Stempniak? I can't fathom any Oiler fan having an issue with what he did. Its stunning. WTF?!?

Our captain sent a message. If you watch the tape he gave Stempniak plenty of time to defend himself. But he wasn't asking him to fight. There was no option. You hit me like that, you fight. Kudos. We need more of this.

I for real can't even play devils advocate and try to find any reason any Oiler fan wouldn't love what he did. I get Flamers didn't like it. Much like we didn't like Regher smashing Hemsky's face through the end boards for 5 years.

People complaining about this play are probably the ones yelling SHOOOOOOOOOOOT at the game.

So today in the NHL, if you hit a guy, 100% clean, and he gets angry and wants to fight, you have to oblige? Wow, that sounds like Don Cherry's code.

When it comes to guys like Lapierre/Burrows who will bite fingers,etc, yea they should have to back it up. But Stempniak made a clean hit.

If you allow guys like Ference to attack smaller guys who hit them, then good luck ever seeing guys like Eberle or RNH try to make a big hit. If they did, *insert name here* would destroy them, just like Ference did to Stempniak.

So today in the NHL, if you hit a guy, 100% clean, and he gets angry and wants to fight, you have to oblige? Wow, that sounds like Don Cherry's code.

When it comes to guys like Lapierre/Burrows who will bite fingers,etc, yea they should have to back it up. But Stempniak made a clean hit.

If you allow guys like Ference to attack smaller guys who hit them, then good luck ever seeing guys like Eberle or RNH try to make a big hit. If they did, *insert name here* would destroy them, just like Ference did to Stempniak.

Thats not fair.

BTW, I'm not an Oilers fan, so your assertion about Oilers fans liking it is probably true.

Someone should remind the timid Ference that this is the NHL and body checking is allowed. That was the reason he was let go by the Flames, other than being a small man who couldn't take a hit he simply was not good enough skill wise.

Speaking of Ference funny how he plays for the 'Oil'. In the off season he is a crusader for tree hugging and anti-oil protests. He is opposed to Oilsands development and plays for a team in the centre of Oil development. Glad he plays for an inept teamm that last week set a new modern day record for consecutive shut-out losses on home ice!

Can't tell if your serious or an idiot. I'll go with an idiot. Stop trolling and being a giant baby. Bout time someone stands up for this team, or himself. Who cares if the hit was legal or not, it's about sending a message. You don't like it, go hide under a bridge....TROLL

Yes Jason I have watched clips form the 80s many times - and how many of those actions back then would result in a visit to shannys office in New York today?

Ferences actions were reprehensible and cheap. And they contributed nil to the moe mention of the game - the oil didn't score until 30 min later and the flames scored in the interim.

Ask yourself how you would have reacted had a flame done the same to an oiler.

Who cares?! Hey are you new Gord? How many times has that happened in the past 7 years to this team? Give me a break, you don't like it go watch ringette. It's not a reviewable play because he lost a tooth and broke his nose. You people complain about everything about this team. Embarassing.

BTW, I'm not an Oilers fan, so your assertion about Oilers fans liking it is probably true.

I'm sure part of what ference didn't like was the reverse hit aspect. He started to reach for the puck and stempniak noticed that and decided to hit him instead of continuing to play the puck. Totally legal but taking advantage of ference being a little vulnerable. That's why I think he didn't like the hit.

Ference - if it becomes necessary - cheap shot again.
of course only if necessary, change of pace, whatever.
Comments as this , is refreshing, it shows the Oil may be pushing
back, enough is enough. Hack whack whatever needs to be done
to make them look over their shoulders.

Lest we forget the runs Regher took at Hemsky or Sarich on Hall
and so on and so on. Payback is a bitch.

I loved how Eakins backpedaled when he said that it would be hard for Arcobello to knock out of the lineup other guys who are established nhlers. I n the pre season he was all about earning ice time. This guy is terribly inconsistent with his message to the players.

Dubnyk elevated his play when he felt steps on the roof form Bryzgalov. Now Eakins has pretty much assured the underachievers on the team that they are safe and won't be held to the same standard as other newcomers, even if one of them is third in scoring.

Dallas Eakins and Craig Mac Tavish disappoint me more and more as the season progresses.

I'm sure part of what ference didn't like was the reverse hit aspect. He started to reach for the puck and stempniak noticed that and decided to hit him instead of continuing to play the puck. Totally legal but taking advantage of ference being a little vulnerable. That's why I think he didn't like the hit.

I'm pretty sure what Ference was doing was looking for the first opportunity to light a fire under this team's a**.

To Serious Gord and the rest who have a problem with the Ference fight.

It is not clear to me whether or not there is a formal definition of a "predatory hit" but I choose to define it as a hit that does not serve a purpose in the context of the play around the players involved. You hit someone to separate them from the puck or to force an error or to accomplish something related to gaining puck possession. You only hit when you don't have the puck. You should only really be hitting someone with the puck. Stempniak made like he was going to chase the puck, then let it go by him and hit Ference in a vulnerable position he put himself in because of Stempniak's initial movements towards the puck. It was a cheap hit. It could have been an (albeit weak) interference call. Predatory hits are thrown out of disrespect or to hurt someone when they aren't ready. It would have been unreasonable to expect that Ference would have done anything other than reach for the puck in that situation. Stempniak took advantage and payed a legitimate price. I loved the fight as a response to something that is rarely called.

I hope they have some confidence from that win. Two day break and the fact that they probably should have lost that last game doesn't have me too confident myself. They are due for a home win though so tonight is the night. 4-3 oil. Just win baby.

I have never understood those fans that think it is acceptable no knock somebody unconsciousness or break bones with a "clean" hit, but wrong to man up with the offending party and square up. It's a logic that the people I associate with are unable to comprehend.

Yes Jason I have watched clips form the 80s many times - and how many of those actions back then would result in a visit to shannys office in New York today?

Ferences actions were reprehensible and cheap. And they contributed nil to the moe mention of the game - the oil didn't score until 30 min later and the flames scored in the interim.

Ask yourself how you would have reacted had a flame done the same to an oiler.

Reprehensible and cheap??? Like sticking out a knee, targeting the head, leaping on a hit!! You're f*cked dude!! Ference hadn't touched the puck and took a hit into the the boards(def:interference) more so faceplanted him into the glass...It's bout time an Oiler defend themselves. You think it was cheap, if that had been Hunter/Brown/Sammy/etc. odds are the Stepniak would still be in hospital. Deal with it, sh*t happens, if you don't like it tell Ference what you think and the two of you can work it out in a dark alley somewhere. Anyways why exactly is Arco not playing???